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Spring 2013
HONORS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Introduction to Ballroom Dancing
Instructor: Samantha Bellomo
Email: samanthabellomo@gmail.com
Honors 201, Section 001, Mondays 6:00 PM - 8:50 PM, 3.0 credits
CRN - 34762
Learn by DUing! This is an interactive dance class not a lecture. To register for this course
come to the Honors Lounge to sign-up. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board.
The class will fill on a first-come, first served basis.
Genetics in Popular Culture
Instructor: Ellen Giarelli
Email: eg446@drexel.edu
Honors 201, Section 002, Wednesdays 10:00 AM – 12:50 PM, 3.0 credits
CRN - 34763
In this course, students will examine how genetics and genomics are represented in popular
culture and mass media. They will critique these representations for explicit and implicit
messages and symbols about broader societal issues, including: the implications of
increasing genomic knowledge for conceptualizing health and disease; for understanding
identity at the individual and group levels, including race and ethnicity; for gaining insights
about human origins; and for considering genetic determinism, free will and individual
responsibility.
HIV/AIDS: A Public Health Perspective
Instructor: Jennifer Breaux
Email: jrb43@drexel.edu
HNRS 201, Section 003, Thursdays 6:00 PM – 8:50 PM, 3.0 credits
CRN - 34865
This course will broadly explore the HIV/AIDS epidemic from a public health perspective
through the exploration of the disease’s historical roots as well as examination of the
epidemiology associated with the disease, programs and policies impacting those infected
with the disease as well as community responses. Past and current treatment for the disease,
disease trends and discrimination towards those based on disease status will also be explored.
Through the use of field experts, readings and current day periodicals, students will gain
perspective and knowledge on the subject. Additionally, the application of the social
determinants of health and human rights framework will provide insight and perspective for
students regarding the experience of those affected by the disease as well as the impact of
larger social institutions, government and access to health care.
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Superheroes in America – ONLINE COURSE
Instructor: Scott Stein
Email: thescottstein@gmail.com
HNRS 201, Section 940, ONLINE COURSE, 3.0 credits
CRN – 34776
This course explores the American superhero, such as Superman and Spider-Man of comic
book and movie fame, and examines such topics as the superhero and society; superheroes
and the law; the psychology and motivations of superhero characters; the comic book
industry; the Comics Code Authority and censorship; superhero parody and homage;
superhero fans and real-life superheroes; and the themes and changing nature of the
superhero story.
Celebrating Pride and Prejudice
Instructor: Paula Cohen
Email: cohenpm@drexel.edu
Honors 301, Section 001, Wednesdays 3:00PM – 5:50PM, 3.0 credits
CRN – 34764
2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s most popular novel,
Pride and Prejudice. This anniversary offers an opportunity both to study this great novel in
depth and to organize an event in its honor. This course would do both. Students would
read Pride and Prejudice, discuss its importance and its enduring popularity in literary and
cinematic adaptations and spin-offs, immerse themselves in the literary criticism, and devise
a special event to celebrate its publication.
The City and the Novel
Instructor: Nathaniel Popkin
Email: nathaniel.popkin@gmail.com
Honors 301, Section 002, Tuesdays 6:00PM – 8:50PM, 3.0 credits
CRN – 34765
We will explore four cities through their books and four books through their cities in an
attempt to understand the ways that literature and urban life intertwine, particularly in the
imagining that happens in the writing and reading of the novel. We will come to think
critically about (1) the ways that a city itself becomes a text, (2) the ways the city is invented,
explored, and sometimes rejected in telling of stories, and (3) the ways this relationship
between the city and the novel helps us to understand history and ourselves. The four cities:
London (and NW by Zadie Smith), New York (and Another Country by James Baldwin),
Barcelona (and Time of the Doves by Merce Rodereda), and Tunis (and Return to Dar alBasha by Hassan Nasr).
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Freedom, Rights, and Justice: Reality and Illusion in Political Philosophy
Instructor: Fred Abbate
Email: fja421@comcast.net
Honors 301, Section 003, Tuesdays 2:00PM – 4:50PM, 3.0 credits
CRN – 34773
We will examine the key ideas of some major classical and influential contemporary political
theories with particular emphasis on arguments in favor of democratic institutions. Included
in the examination of these views will be an analysis of conflicting theories about the nature
of political obligation and the concept of law, as well as the connection these theories have
with claims made both in defense of and in opposition to policies on human rights,
distributive justice and political liberty.
Apocalypse/Post-Apocalypse: Images of Nuclear War in Film and Fiction
Instructor: Ian Abrams
Email: Abrams@drexel.edu
HNRS 301, Section 004, Mondays 6:00PM – 8:50PM, 3.0 credits
CRN - 34854
I've been teaching this course on and off since 2000, and every time it seems to resonate
more with current events. In the class, we look at movies and stories (and newsreels and
propaganda films and, weirdly, music) about nuclear holocaust, dating from the 1940's up to
today-- the class is about how various treatments of this fictional idea have changed
according to what was going on in the world.
Because the subject matter is so unnerving, I like to briefly meet with all prospective
students before they join the class-- for this reason, this course is by permission of
instructor only. Please contact Prof. Ian Abrams directly (ian.n.abrams@drexel.edu) to
discuss enrolling in the course.
History and Mystery
Instructor: Cordelia Frances Biddle
Email: (CordeliaFrancesBiddle@earthlink.net)
Honors 302, Section 001, Mondays, 6:00PM – 8:50 PM, 3.0 credits
CRN – 34777
Tales of mystery and suspense have added nuance and interest when set in an historical
context. In an earlier timeframe, a fictional character’s behavior and language alters, as can
the psychology of intent. In order to write convincing narratives that transpire in a prior era,
research into historical fact becomes integral to the plot. Seamless inclusion of archival data
and detail is vital.
In this course, students will learn to properly utilize primary and secondary research tools,
and create characters and narrative lines that are true to their time periods. Weekly writing
assignments will be supplemented by reading and commenting upon other students’ weekly
submissions, and critiquing assigned short fiction by critically acclaimed authors.
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Great Works Symposium:
Life & Death in the Museum
Instructors – Lydia Pyne, Amy Slaton, Jesse Smith
Email: lydia.virginia.pyne@drexel.edu, slatonae@drexel.edu, jessesmithpa@gmail.com
UNIV 241, Section 001, 002, or 003 Fridays 9:00AM – 11:50AM, 3.0 credits
CRN – 31734, 31735, 31736
Museums are repositories of objects both living and dead. They keep alive certain forms of
knowledge, histories, and culture, while denying or making invisible others. Museums give
birth to ways of thinking, ways of seeing, and ways of identifying – sometimes suppressing
other ways thinking, seeing and identifying in that process. We will visit five museums in
Philadelphia during the course: the Academy of Natural Science; the Waterworks; the
Mutter; the Wagner Free Institute; and the Philadelphia Zoo. This course will explore many
themes – especially how science is displayed to public audiences.
Find this course on-line under “University-Wide Courses.” For further information,
contact Dr. Kevin Egan (kde25@drexel.edu)
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